1798 - Sibylle and Fox at Sanboangon


 
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Naval History of Great Britain - Vol II
1798 Sibylle and Fox at Samboangon 215

proper colours, and the Fox and the two gun-boats opened a fire upon the fort, which was returned as well by the latter as by a two-gun battery to the westward, but, owing to the distance, with very little effect. At 8 a.m. a fresh breeze sprang up from the land, and, aided by the tide, then running at the rate of three knots to the westward, drove the Fox off the bank on which she had anchored.

At noon, a fresh breeze springing up from the westward, the Sibylle and Fox, accompanied by the two gun-boats, made all sail towards the fort. At about 2 h. 5 m. p.m. the Sibylle fired an 18-pounder at the western battery to try the distance, and in five minutes more, being abreast of the fort of Samboangon, brought to and commenced the action. Shortly afterwards the Fox began firing at the western battery ; and, at 3 p.m., being abreast of, and about half a mile distant from it, and about three quarters of a mile from the fort, dropped her anchor astern, but rather inside, of her consort. The Fox and the western battery, which mounted 12 or 14 guns, were soon as hotly engaged as the fort itself and the Sibylle. The fire from the battery abreast of the Fox being both heavy and well-directed, while the shot from the latter seemed to produce little or no effect, Captain Malcolm, at 3 h. 20 m. p.m., accompanied by the first lieutenant of the Fox, in conformity to directions previously received from Captain Cooke, proceeded, in three of the Fox's boats (and which were soon followed by three from the Sibylle), to endeavour to effect a landing to the westward of the battery.

As the boats approached, a shot from the battery struck and went through the Fox's cutter, killing two seamen, and wounding a master's mate (Mr. Davis), two seamen, and one marine. Fortunately, the cutter, when she swamped, was in shoal water and close to a sand-bank ; upon which, Captain Malcolm and the remainder of the crew presently landed. Here the captain found, as well the surviving men of the cutter, as the crew of the launch, that had grounded on the same bank, and intended pushing for the shore ; but, deep water being found inside the bank, and a strong party of men observed posted on the beach, the attempt was abandoned, and the party, at about 3 h. 30 m. p.m., returned to the ships. At 3 h. 40 m. a shot from the battery cut away two strands of the Fox's cable. Having received other considerable damage on board, the Fox now cut the remaining strand of her cable, and stood out of gun-shot to the southward. The Sibylle about the same time cut her cable, and removed further from the fort.

Of this fort and the adjoining batteries, the strength had evidently been much underrated by the commanding officer of the two frigates ; one of which, the Sibylle, had her master (Richard Stanning) and one marine killed, and one wounded. It was the other frigate, however, which, owing to her nearness to the western battery, bore the brunt of the attack. One shot,

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